mom, blogger, but not a mom blogger

Pumpkin Hemp Hearts Granola

It’s officially pumpkin season here. While fall is not my favorite season, I do love the excuse to make anything pumpkin flavored. Including pumpkin granola. So when I got some Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts in the mail to try out, I knew exactly what I would do with them – make granola!

And since I was craving some pumpkin granola, I combined the two – so here you go … pumpkin hemp hearts granola. It’s pretty good. It’s a little less sweet than the typical granola I make (feel free to add more sugar if you want it sweeter) and a little softer (pumpkin will do that to it) BUT it’s the perfect fall breakfast or snack. I dare you to try it with pumpkin yogurt!

Pumpkin Hemp Hearts Granola

Here’s what you need:

3 ½ c old-fashioned rolled oats

1/3 c hemp hearts (I used Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts)

2 tsps ground cinnamon

½ tsp ground cloves

¼ tsp ground nutmeg

¼ tsp ground ginger

¼ tsp allspice

1 Tablespoon packed brown sugar

½ cup pumpkin puree

¼ cup pure maple syrup

¼ cup honey

¼ c coconut oil, melted

1 egg white

Optional: Dried fruit, such as cranberries, cherries, etc.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325F degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, combine the oats and hemp hearts. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, allspice and brown sugar. Mix until puree is a little darker and smooth. Add in maple syrup, honey and melted coconut oil. In a separate bowl, whisk egg white. Add to pumpkin puree mixture and mix until evenly combined. Pour over oats and hemp hearts and mix until everything is just wet.

Spread onto the baking sheet pat oat mixture down tightly. Bake for about 40 minutes. Check about every 15 minutes and stir if it is starting to burn.

Allow granola to cool for 30 minutes on the baking sheet before adding in dried fruit.

Store in a covered container, such as a jar. Granola won’t be as crunchy as other granolas because of the pumpkin – but it’s delicious!